Can You Plant a New Tree Where an Old Tree Was Removed?

After a tree is removed from your yard, it often leaves behind a space. A great way to fill this space is by planting an all new tree.

However, you have to be careful when doing this. You need to watch for any signs of insects or disease that the old tree may have left behind. If these issues remain, they can affect the new tree you are planning to plant.

If you want to ensure the new tree you are planting in the space where you just had a tree moved, use the tips found here.

Clear Away the Stump

After a tree is removed, it is going to leave behind the stump. When the stump begins to decay, it is also consuming nitrogen out of the soil. This increases its acidity and affects the total nutrient balance. In addition to this issue, there are a number of other reasons to get rid of a stump. These include:

It’s not nice to look at: If you take pride in your garden and landscape, then having a stump sticking up in the middle of it won’t be too appealing.

Unwanted tree growth: If you leave a stump in place, it is going to result in random spouts shooting up. The sprouts are going to continue to grow and create new trees that are going to steal the nutrients out of the ground and away from the nearby plants.

Attracts insects and diseases: As stumps rot, insects see this as the perfect place to live. These insects may be carrying diseases, and a rotting stump is the perfect breeding ground for them.

Accident prone: If you leave a stump in your yard, someone may trip over it or it could cause damage to your lawn mower. Having it removed is the only way to prevent this.

To make sure your new tree is as healthy as possible, be sure to clean out what the old tree left behind, such as roots, sawdust, and stumps. All these can impact the growth of a new tree.

What Type of New Tree to Plant?

If a disease is the reason that an old tree was removed, then the pathogen may still be lurking in the soil. This may lead to a replant disease, which is commonly referred to as “sick soil syndrome.” Some of the trees that are susceptible to being affected by this include spruce, pear, pine, apple, citrus, and cherry.

If you want to avoid this type of disease and keep it from affecting your new tree, then you need to remove the entirety of the old tree and replace the soil with completely new soil. It’s also a good idea to sterilize the tools that came into contact with the affected tree.

If you have more questions about planting a new tree and want to give it the best start possible, then it is a good idea to reach out to the pros. They can help with the removal of the old tree and stump, and ensure there are no issues left behind.